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(No Modell) O. A. MGOORMICK. SHOE.

No. 584,558. Pmnted June 15,1897.

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iIlNiTnn STATES PATENT Ormes.

ORAN A. MCOORMIOK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,558, dated June 15, 1897.

Application filed March 26, 1896. Serial No. 584,945. (No model.)

To u/ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ORAN A. MoCoRMIoK, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel shoe.

My inventionlhas special reference to shoes of the type wherein is provided a sui table fastening-opening adapted to be opened or eX- panded for putting on and removing the shoe and to be drawn together or closed more or less after the shoe is upon the foot by any suitable or desired fastening means.

In order to disclose the nature of my invention, I have herein illustrated and will describe the saine in connection with a shoe wherein the fastening-opening is adapted to be closed by a lacing-cord, this being a type of shoe to which, among others, my invention will undoubtedly have an extended application. In shoes of this type as at present constructed it is possible, by exerting various tensions upon the fastening-cord, to draw the opposite edges of ,the fastening-opening into greater or less proximity to each other, the opening at some times being entirely closed and at other times being perhaps widely separated, thereby preventing any uniformit-y in the appearance of the shoe at or ad jacent the fastening opening. Furthermore, when a usual tongue is employed within the shoe to close the fastening-opening when the edges thereof are not drawn one close to the other it is apt to become drawn and crinkled by the movement of the edges of the upper resting upon the same or the lacing-cord pressed tightly against the same as said cord is tightened for the fastening of the shoe upon the foot.

To obviate the uneven appearance of the shoeat or adjacent the lacing-opening by reason of the drawing of the edges of the openinginto greater or less proximity to each other, and by the orinkling to a greater or less eX- tent of the tongue when employed, and also to prevent the lacing-cord from pressing unduly upon the instep of the foot, my present invention comprehends providing the sides of the lacing opening with suitable edges adapted to be drawn relatively toward each other as desired. Outside and overlying these abutting sides of the fastening-opening Ihave provided what I call fastening-naps,7 secured to the shoe-upper and arranged with their edges falling short of the abutment edges of the sides referred to, so that when the shoe is closed upon the foot by drawing into abutting contact of the edges of the sides of the openings, as above described, the fasteningiiaps will remain separated at a predetermined distance and always at the same distance, thus presenting absolute uniformity in appearance at the instep of the shoe.

The lacing, when employed, in passing from one to another of these fastening-fiaps is eX- posed between the edges of the said flaps and over and upon the sides of the lacing-opening, presenting a highly ornamental and uni-` formly ornamental effect,and at the same time the coming together of the sides of the opening serves ordinarily to prevent too tight lacing of the shoe, permitting the shoe, however, to be laced in special cases to neatly nt a low instep or a high instep, as may be, the widelyremoved fastening-flaps permitting of unusual drawing together if absolutely necessary and the intermediate sides of the fastening-opening covering the tongue and closing the gap when a high instep requires a wide opening, said edges being intended, however, normally to abut, as stated, for neatness and symmetry and also to prevent the impressing of the fastening or lacing cord into the instep of the foot to a greater extent than is ordinarily possible with the usual tongue.

Figure l illustrates in perspective a shoe embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows onehalf of the top of the shoe illustrated in Fig. l; Fig. 3, one of the abutting lip-like sides of the fastening-opening herein shown in the nature of an insertion-piece; Fig. 1l, a fastening or flap piece.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the shoe having the sole A, the vamp B, and the top composed of the two pieces b, stitched tothe upperv side of the vamp by stitches in continuation of those marked ct, and with their rear edges b stitched together in a usual back seam, is and may be of usual or desired construction.

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The usual fastening-opening, herein shown at the front of the shoe, is shown fitted with a usual tongue f.

The sides of the fastening-opening herein constituted by the lip-like insertion-pieces a3 (shown as secured to and therefore forming in effect a part of the shoe-upper) are so constructed that their adjacent edges constitute abutment edges adapted to be drawn together to close or nearly close the fastening-opening When the shoe is laced upon the foot, these abutment lips or pieces overlying and resting upon the tonguef.- (Shown in Fig. l.)

Outside of the abutment-lips a3 and overlying the same are What'I have termed the fastening-flaps h2, also secured to or forming part of the upperfand provided With suitable fastening devices or means, such, for instance, as the usual lacing-eyes and the hooks d, (see Fig. 1,) adapted to receive a usual fastening cord or lacing, by Which the upper may be drawn about and upon the foot.

In accordance with my invention the adjacent edges of the fastening-flaps Which overlie the abutment-lips fall short of the abutment edges of the said lips, so that when the latter are drawn together With the edge of one in contact with the edge of the other the edges of the fastening-flaps overlying said lips remain and are held by said abutment-lips separated one from the other at such distance as may be desired to present the desired ornamental effect, which may be varied according to the configuration or ornamentation of the said flaps and lips.

Vhen the lacing-cord is employed, as herein shown, this separation of the edges of the flaps, Which is maintained by the abutmentlips always at a uniform distance, causes the lacing-cord in passing from one to the other of the flaps to be exposed over and upon the underlying and abutting lips, which, when said lips, cord, and iiaps are made of different kinds or colors of material, presents a highly ornamental effect and an effect Which in its ornamental appearance must of necessity remain unchanged by any possible variations in tension upon the fastening means, and at the same time these abutting lips protect the foot from the crossing portions of the lacing-cord in a much more effective manner than is possible With a usual tongue, which is necessarily made thin. In my shoe as shown, therefore, is presented, first, the fasteningflap, lying next to the foot and extending entirely across or beneath the lacing-opening; next, the superimposed or overlying abutment-lips, adapted to be drawn one into abutting contact With the other, closing the said fastening-opening, and, lastly, the fasteningflaps overlying and resting upon the abutment-lips and with their edges falling short of the abutment edges of the said lips to maintain a uniform and highly-ornamental effect.

In the presentinstance of my invention each lip-like insertion-piece or abutment-lip a3 is stitched to the top of the shoe back of the edges of the fastening-lips by stitching, as at 3, and the inner faces of the lacing-flaps are shown as faced by facing-pieces c, shaped as shown in Fig. 4t, Which extend upwardly for a desired distance-for instance, to a point just above the lowermost hook cZ-said hook `also having a shank which passes through the edge of the flap and insertion-piece or lip,

. thus riveting the same and fastening all together at that point.

The inner edges of the flaps from the lowermost hook d to the top of the shoe may be stitched down to and upon the abutment-lips or insertion-pieces by stitches, as 4, extending from the top to the said hook.

The free edges of the flaps by reason of my invention may be left free, as illustrated in Fig. l, to be turned back to receive the lacing even When the shoe is upon the foot, making it much easier t0 adjust said lacing.

The tonguef may be stitched to the shoe by stitches a, if desired.

In Fig. 2 the dotted lines show the position' .of the facing c and the face of the free edge of the Hap, with the facing in the position shown. The flap, which herein constitutes a part of the upper or top, may be laid on the insertion piece or lip, as shown in Fig. 3, bringing the edges of the same onto the dotted line 6 6, and the stitches 3 then put in back of the edge a3, leaving a portion of the lippiece exposed or extended beyond the edge of the fastening-flap.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described shoe provided With a fastening-opening, and including insertionpieces a3, secured along their inner edges to the shoe-upper back of the edges thereof, the latter projecting forward over and short of the free edges of the insertion-pieces, and being provided With lacing-engaging devices,-

said devices in the upper portions thereof being also secured in said insertion-pieces, and in the lower portions thereof being free from said insertion-pieces, said lower portions being also provided on their under sides with facing-pieces c, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described shoe provided With a fastening-opening; a tongue arranged at the inside of said shoe to close said opening, pieces a3 overlying the said tongue and presenting free outer edges adapted to be mutually drawn toward each other to effectually conceal said tongue, and the fastening-flaps overlying the said pieces a3 with their edges falling short of the said free outer edges of said pieces, said flaps being provided with lacing-engaging devices, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described shoe having a fastening-opening and provided at opposite sides of said opening With the portions a3 projecting along their inner edges from the shoe-upper; fastening-naps also projecting at their edges from said upper and overlying said por- IOO IIO

Io sent-ed by the free edges of said iiaps being carried by said iiaps alone independent of said portions 0,3 and an underlying tongue, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of 15 two subscribing Witnesses.

ORAN A. MGOORMIOK. Witnesses:

ELIsHA D. HoLBRooK, OLIVER M, WING. 

